#PC67
Ca. 1880s
Sixteen loose original albumen photos, all ca. 16x22 cm (6 ¼ x 8 ½ in) or slightly smaller. Each photo is mounted on the original card ca. 23,5x28 cm (9 ¼ x 11 in). All but one photo with period pencil captions in English on verso, several photos also dated 1882 on verso. Mounts slightly age-toned and waved, several mounts with minor tears or chipping on extremities, several photos mildly faded, but overall a very good collection of early large rare photos.
Historically significant collection of early large rare original albumen photos of the British-owned East Argentine Railway, built in 1871, to connect Concordia (Entre Rios, Argentina) and the port of Ceibo on the right bank of the Uruguay River. The railway passed Gualeguaycito, Federacion, Estancia Philippi, Chajari, Mocoreta, Naranjito, and Monte Caseros before reaching Ceibo, which developed as the starting point of the navigation on the Upper Uruguay River. The railway company owned the Scotish-built “Mensajero” steamer, which took passengers and cargo as far up as Santo Tome (Corrientes, Argentina). Due to financial difficulties, the railway was sold to another British-owned company, the Argentine North Eastern Railway, in 1907.
According to the pencil captions, the photos were taken in 1882 and include seven general and street views of Concordia, photos of railway stations in Gualeguaycito and Monte Caseros, a four-span bridge in Mandisovi (between Federacion and Chajari), Ceibo River and nearby ranchos, Monte Caseros, “Mensajero” steamer in Ceibo (with a visible name sign) and a smaller railway bridge with the two-car train on its right side. Overall a nice collection of early original photographs of the starting point, stations, bridges and the steamer of the East Argentine Railway.
A list of captions: View in Concordia; View of Concordia [two different views]; Principal street, Concordia; Street in Concordia; Plaza, Concordia, 1882; Plaza Concordia/82; A station on E.A. Railway [Gualeguaycito]; Monte Caserne station; […?] Grande bridge, E.A. Railway/82; Mandisovi bridge/82; Monte Caseros, 1882; Ceibo River; Raches on the banks of Ceibo; Mensagero in Ceibo; [Mensajero steamer].
